More Relief for Hurricanes Irma and Harvey

CHICAGO -- Recovery efforts are ongoing for hurricanes Irma and Harvey, and retailers and suppliers in the convenience-store industry are continuing to do their part.

Whether it’s donating candy as a way of “showing gratitude” or supplying fuel for trucks delivering supplies, here’s how they are helping ...

Alto-Shaam

On Sept. 25, employees of Menomonee Falls, Wis.-based Alto-Shaam, a commercial kitchen equipment manufacturer that supports education foodservice providers among other industries, sent a large box of supplies and more than $200 in cash to the Houston Independent School District’s supply drive following Hurricane Harvey. The employees grouped together in early September to ship school supplies, clothing and more to the school district.

“We wanted to do our small part to help show these families in Houston that we care about them and their futures as they start to rebuild their lives,” said Sarah Millard, senior communications specialist for Alto-Shaam.

CandyRific

On Sept. 15, CandyRific shipped 52,000 candy and novelty pieces, or 3,300 pounds worth, to Houston for hurricane relief. The five pallets of products were sent as a sign of hope and empathy for what the people affected by the hurricane must be going through, the Louisville, Ky.-based company said.

“As good citizens, when we see a problem where we can help those in need, we want to do something. This is our way of showing gratitude,” President Rob Auerbach said.

Coca-Cola

The Coca-Cola Co., its Mexico and Latin Center business units and The Coca-Cola Foundation are pledging additional financial support to communities recovering from recent natural disasters across Mexico, Puerto Rico and the Caribbean Islands. The new pledges are:

A $1 million grant from The Coca-Cola Foundation to the Mexican Red Cross to support relief efforts in communities impacted by recent earthquakes in Mexico.

A $1 million grant from The Coca-Cola Foundation to the Salvation Army to help provide immediate resources for necessary food and shelter in areas affected by Hurricanes Irma and Maria across the Caribbean, including Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

A $2 million pledge from Coca-Cola de Mexico to support reconstruction in Mexico once immediate disaster-relief efforts are complete.

A $300,000 pledge from the Coca-Cola Latin Center Business Unit to support reconstruction in St. Kitts, Turks and Caicos and Barbuda.

These donations build on the $2 million The Coca-Cola Foundation previously granted to The American Red Cross for relief efforts across the Caribbean Islands and the southeastern United States following hurricanes Irma and Harvey.

Cumberland Farms

From Sept. 18-24, Westborough, Mass.-based Cumberland Farms donated 10 cents from every fountain and frozen Chill Zone beverage purchased to the American Red Cross for hurricanes Harvey and Irma relief. The donations will be split equally to enable the Red Cross to prepare for, respond to, and help communities recover from the two disasters.

“We care deeply about the communities we serve and we hope that our donation helps provide some relief to those affected by the historic storms as they face the challenges ahead,” said Ari Haseotes, CEO of Cumberland Farms.

ITG Brands

Greensboro, N.C.-based ITG Brands and Fort Lauderdale, Fla.-based premium cigar division Tabacalera USA are donating through their affiliated foundation $50,000 to the American Red Cross for disaster relief in Florida. The companies also donated $50,000 for Hurricane Harvey-related assistance in Houston and other affected areas.

“We were touched by the devastation, loss of life and disruption in Houston and many other Texas locations with Hurricane Harvey,” said ITG Brands CEO David Taylor. “This time, Hurricane Irma hit closer to home.”

PepsiCo

In the wake of Hurricane Irma and the earthquake in Mexico, the PepsiCo Foundation has provided a $1 million grant to Feeding America for assistance in Florida and the southeastern United States. The foundation is giving the American Red Cross and its partner national societies a $250,000 grant to aid recovery in the Caribbean and a $250,000 donation for relief work in Mexico. The foundation has also provided $250,000 to source, package and distribute meals in the Miami area through its long-established Food for Good program, a purpose-driven business initiative that uses PepsiCo’s expertise in taste, nutrition and distribution to tackle child hunger.

The donations build on a $1 million grant by the PepsiCo Foundation to the American Red Cross after Hurricane Harvey, and a $1.75 million donation to provide 1 million meals in the Houston area through Food for Good. Purchase, N.Y.-based PepsiCo has also donated more than 107,500 cases of Aquafina purified drinking water, Propel water, Gatorade thirst quencher and Tropicana.

Pilot Flying J

Pilot Flying J is teaming up with UniGroup, the Salvation Army and media company Tegna to collect, transport, store and distribute supplies to individuals and families affected by hurricanes Harvey and Irma.

Thirteen Tegna stations across the United States are organizing local supply-collection events through Sept. 30. Semitrailers provided by UniGroup, owner of United Van Lines and Mayflower Transit, will pick up the donated supplies and depart for Houston and Florida. Knoxville, Tenn.-based Pilot Flying J is donating fuel for the trucks, and the Salvation Army will distribute the supplies.

Spoetzl Brewery

The Spoetzl Brewery in Shiner, Texas, which brews Shiner Bock, has donated $100,000 to nonprofit organizations to support Hurricane Irma relief efforts in Florida. The contribution was divided between the Center for Disaster Philanthropy and the United Way of Miami-Dade, which is soliciting donations for all areas in Florida affected by Hurricane Irma.

The company also donated $500,000 in support of Hurricane Harvey recovery. The Category 4 hurricane made landfall near Corpus Christi, Texas, on Friday, Aug. 25, 2017, and severely impacted the Texas Gulf Coast, the greater Houston area and parts of East Texas as a tropical storm with catastrophic rain and flooding.

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